Fiat Chrysler, Honda recall nearly 10 million more Takata airbags

Earlier this month, rumors began circulating that up to 40 million airbag inflators installed on U.S. vehicles would be added to the already-massive Takata recall. Shortly thereafter, Honda issued a recall for 20 million additional devices, while Toyota‘s roster grew by a more modest but still staggering 1.6 million.

Today, Honda has issued yet another Takata-related recall, this one affecting 4.5 million inflators. FiatChrysler did the same, with roughly 5.2 million vehicles affected.

In both cases, the faulty inflators are linked to front passenger airbags. As you might recall from the long, complicated recall process, Takata equipped both driver-side and passenger-side airbags with ammonium nitrate to inflate the devices. Unfortunately, that compound becomes destabilized when exposed to heat and moisture, causing it to explode when airbags are deployed and spraying vehicle occupants with shrapnel. The airbags have been linked to at least 11 deaths and hundreds of injuries worldwide.

Before recall expansions began this month, nearly 29 million inflators on 24 million U.S. vehicles were affected. As of today, the number of recalled devices tops 60 million. (FWIW, an additional 7 million vehicles were recalled today in Japan, pushing Takata ever-closer to bankruptcy.)

Approximately 933,000 vehicles in Canada, Mexico, and elsewhere are also affected.

It’s widely believed that vehicles sold or registered in hot, humid areas are most susceptible to ammonium nitrate degradation. As a result, vehicles in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands will be given priority.

If you own one of the vehicles listed above and have questions, you’re encouraged to contact the FCA US Customer Care Center at 1-800-853-1403.

Of the 4.5 million inflators that Honda recalled today, 2.3 million are installed on vehicles that have already been affected by the Takata recall (for example, to have driver-side devices replaced). In other words, today’s announcement adds 2.2 million new vehicles to Honda’s recall roster. Those vehicles include:

Honda also announced a recall of the 2006-2010 Gold Wing motorcycle, which is equipped with a non-dessicated Takata airbag. That makes it the first Honda motorcycle to be included in the recall. Roughly 2,700 bikes are affected.

Honda expects to mail recall notices in late summer, with repairs to begin this fall, as parts become available. Automobile owners who have questions can visit www.recalls.honda.com or www.recalls.acura.com, or call 1-888-234-2138. Motorcycle owners can visit www.powersports.honda.com/recalls or call 1-866-784-1870.